what is an armadillo?

description of an armadillo

There are 21 species of armadillos in the world, but the only armadillo found in Tennessee and even the entire United States is the Nine-banded armadillo. The Nine-banded armadillo cannot curl up into a ball like other species of armadillos. The armadillo can be tan to greyish-brown with an oval shaped body. Armadillos have a long, tapering and almost hairless tail. The armadillo’s snout is pointy and pink and they have sticky tongues, similar to anteaters. Armadillos have a carapace, which is a tough, armor-like shell with 7 to 11 bands around the center of the body. The legs of an armadillo are built for digging and are short with long, sharp claws.

Armadillos dig in the yard for food and shelter. One armadillo burrow can have up to 6 armadillos in the armadillo den.

how many armadillos are in my yard?

how many armadillos are in an armadillo burrow?

The nine-banded armadillo reproduces in early summer and lasts around 2 to 3 months. These armadillos always give birth to quadruplets. Their fertilized egg breaks into four identical zygotes, which produces 4 identical babies. At birth the young armadillo’s carapace has not yet hardened which leaves them vulnerable to predation.

Each armadillo burrow can have up to 6 armadillos living in it at a time. Young armadillos will venture out on their own around 6 to 12 months after they are born.

Armadillo damage

why armadillo removal is necessary

Armadillo damage can result in expensive repairs to a lawn, driveway, sidewalk, air conditioning unit or even your home. Armadillos are constantly digging in search of food. An armadillo will destroy a yard over time and the lawn will need to be fixed. Since armadillo burrows go down 15ft deep and can be 15ft long, they cause air conditioning units to sink in, sidewalks to cave in, driveways to crack and even foundations of the home to crack.

Armadillos carry the bacterium (Mycobacterium leprae) that causes leprosy in humans. It is thought that the only way to contract leprosy from an armadillo is by eating an armadillo or coming in contact with an armadillo. If you have a dead armadillo in your yard, do not handle it. Call Complete Animal Removal to remove and treat your dead armadillo. Also do not eat armadillos to avoid contracting leprosy.

Armadillos thrive in grasslands and forested areas but are abundant in urban areas as well. The armadillo prefers lawns with loose, sandy soil full of insects and invertebrates. Armadillos use their powerful claws to dig several burrows within a close range of their home. Each armadillo burrow goes down about 10 to 15ft deep. Armadillos build a den that is 15ft long, which can cause sinkholes and property damage.

Armadillos are insectivores and will dig in the yard to eat grubs, earthworms, beetles, larvae, grasshoppers, spiders, termites, scorpions, wasps, yellow jackets, ants, snails and maggots. The armadillo’s eyesight is poor, so they depend on their highly developed sense of smell to these insects.

During most of the year armadillos are nocturnal and only come out at night. However due to their low body temperature, during the colder months armadillos will venture out during the day to warm up in the sun.

The Nine-banded armadillo cannot roll up into a ball. In facto of the 21 species of armadillos only 2 species can. Both species of armadillos that can roll into a ball are three-banded armadillos.

Armadillos are surprisingly great jumpers. Unfortunately for them this trait is the reason they are such popular road kill. Armadillos jump to the height of a car bumper. When they see headlights, the armadillo gets frightened and jumps right into the vehicle’s bumper. An armadillo’s body is low to the ground and if they did not jump the armadillo would have a better chance of surviving.

Although an armadillo looks like it would sink in water, armadillos can actually swim and hold their breath for 6 minutes.